Gwoemul (2006) aka "The Host"

It's slightly ironic that in my recent review of Cloverfield I likened the film to pretty much every movie ever made ever apart from The Host when it is clear Joon-ho Bong's picture clearly inspired the former. Monster causes mass panic with a bit of comedy and a slightly deeper message(s) in there too, one of which being a green one so I was all smiles and award The Host..

3.5 stars

Mou gaan dou III: Jung gik mou gaan (2003) aka "Infernal Affairs III"

I must admit that I was fully expecting The Godfather: Part III in this third installment of the HK set thrillers. Yet upon watching this ambitious part sequel/part prequel I was pleasantly surprised, not up to the standard of the previous two but still a worthwhile end to an excellent trilogy.

3.5 stars

Secretary (2002)

Maggie Gyllenhaal excels in this much lauded sadomasochistic tale of employer/employee relationship. Yes, it's 'original', although the storyline is very linear, and I was left expecting more. The film was branded as kinky, but, somehow not kinky enough? Does that sound bad? Still worth a look-in though.

3.5 stars

Last Emperor, The (1987)

A rich and epic story of the last Chinese "Lord of 10,000 Years" is truly engrossing despite looking slightly dated in this age of the Curse of the Golden Flower and the likes. Winner of the Best Picture at the 60th Annual Academy Awards was a fitting Sunday afernoon viewing on this Oscar weekend.

4 stars

Diarios de motocicleta (2004) aka "The Motorcycle Diaries"

This enjoyable road movie (who can blame the boys for wanting to escape Buenos Aires.. eh.. eh..?) is a tale of youth and idealism with Gael García Bernal excelling as Ernesto "Che" Guevara.

3.5 stars

Adaptation. (2002)

Highly original, orchid-centric love&frustration fest. What can I say, writer's block is a bitch.
Chris Cooper won an Oscar, and Charlie & Donald Kaufman were nominated for a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar. Charlie & Donald Kaufman didn't win though - probably because this isn't an adapted screenplay. And Donald Kaufman doesn't even exist.

4 stars

Breaking and Entering (2006)

London tale of love, lust, right and wrong. A case of life imitating art, imitating life. Jude Law does love to cheat, innit? Delicately handled tale of infidelity and soul searching. Anthony Minghella (The English Patient, Cold Mountain) directs.

3.5 stars

Mou gaan dou II (2003) aka "Infernal Affairs II"

Hong Kong's answer to The Godfather really expands on the story and characters introduced in the first. A more ambitious and bold plot, sees a lesser focus on the 'moles' and more on the people higher up the food chain - both in the triads and OCTB. Gripping stuff.

4 stars

Hills Have Eyes, The (1977)

The hills have eyes .. and knives ... and guns .. and a taste for human flesh in this Wes Craven shocker. A classic 70s horror flick that has obviously inspired some of the filmmakers of today, not least Alexandre Aja who copied it with his own version in 2006.

3 stars

Atonement (2007)

Janck: This winner of the 2008 BAFTA Best Film Award wasn't even the best film I've seen this week.

3 stars

Mitch: Beautifully shot period drama. It's all very "..but, Mr. Darcy!"; miss Knightly even manages to sound more posh than usual. If only James McEvoy had used predictive text instead of sending a letter; that way he would've sent a message about "your beautiful, wet aunt" and saved himself a lot of bother. BAFTA and Oscar nominated.

4 stars

Cloverfield (2008)

The Blair Witch Project meets E.T. meets Independence Day meets Ghostbusters II meets 28 Days Later... meets Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan meets Black Hawk Down meets Alien meets Predator 2 meets Alien vs. Predator meets L O S T meets Sex and the City meets Friends meets The War of the Worlds meets Them! meets I Am Legend meets World Trade Center meets Home Alone 2: Lost in New York meets Men in Black meets King Kong meets Armageddon meets Destroy All Monsters meets Escape from New York meets Big meets Splash meets Godzilla.

Janck 3.5 stars

Shake....shake....shake.....shake....shake......shake.

Mitch 3.5 stars

Mou gaan dou (2002) aka "Infernal Affairs"

This is the explosive Hong Kong remake of the 2006 hit The Departed ;-) A fantastic cat-and-mouse chase of a movie, which is surprising light on action, preferring to focus on character development and the driving of the story .. if you enjoyed The Departed then I urge you to see Infernal Affairs.

4.5 stars

The Business (2005)

"More cocaine than CASINO, more guns than GOODFELLAS, more swearing than SCARFACE" claims the DVD box. This may be so, but sadly this is inferior than all three. Nice on style and location; although achingly predictable. I would've loved this film 10 years ago; Nuts and FHM gave this a 5-star rating.

3 stars

Aviator, The (2004)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0338751/

I'm not sure how this movie had slipped under my radar, and it was only after watching Lasse Hallström's fun The Hoax that it piqued my interest in Howard Hughes, leading me to Scorsese's Oscar winner. Thoroughly enjoyable, and great to look at, resigning Gangs of New York to a bad memory ;)

3.5 stars

Walker, The (2007)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0783608/

Janck: Paul "You talkin' to me?" Schrader's movie is enjoyable and somewhat topical at the moment (I kept expecting a cameo from Barack Obama at any moment..). Harrelson puts in a great performence to earn this flick..

3.5 stars

Mitch: So-so murder mystery drama. Harrelson pretty much carries the movie, although good support from Kristen Scott Thomas.

3 stars

London to Brighton (2006)

"It's not a ganster movie" cites debut director Paul Andrew Williams. Made on a shoestring budget, this is a fine achievement in portraying the gritty realism of street life. Gangsters, guns, drugs - although surprisingly no flavour of Guy Ritchie. Recommended.

4 stars

Volver (2006)

Spanish drama exploring the themes of 'life and death'. Some good performances and well shot; Penelope Cruz was Oscar nominated.


3.5 stars

Death Proof (2007)

Tarantino pulls no punches in this first-rate trashy B-movie. Plenty of fun at 100mph, this hurtles along albeit intercut with the lengthy dialogue you come to expect from Tarantino. Well worth viewing.

4.5 stars

Marie Antoinette (2006)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0422720/

This film felt very much like a two hour music video, not a cool music video like Daft Punk's Da Funk, but more like an Adam Ant one. Best avoided.

2 stars

Previously on F I L M J A M

- Irréversible (2002) 4 stars
- Million Dollar Baby (2004) 3 stars
- Caché (2005) aka "Hidden" 4 stars
- Boksuneun naui geot (2002) aka "Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance" 4 stars
- Koroshiya 1 (2001) aka "Ichi the Killer" 3 stars
- Bobby (2006) 3 stars
- Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, The (2005) 4 stars
- United 93 (2006) 5 stars
- New World, The (2005) 4 stars
- Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006) 3 stars
- Office Space (1999) 3 stars
- Serenity (2005) 3 stars
- Happy Feet (2006) 3 stars
- Marche de l'empereur, La (2005) aka "March of the Penguins" 3 stars
- Intolerable Cruelty (2003) 4 stars
- Deja Vu (2006) 3 stars
- Casablanca (1942) 5 stars
- Bottle Rocket (1996) 3 stars
- Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) 3 stars
- Leben der Anderen, Das (2006) aka "The Lives of Others" 3 stars
- Shooter (2007) 2 stars
- Idi i smotri (1985) aka "Come and See" 4 stars
- Blades of Glory (2007) 3 stars
- Half Nelson (2006) 4 stars
- Elementarteilchen (2006) aka "Atomised" 3 stars
- Red Eye (2005) 2 stars
- Family Stone, The (2005) 2 stars
- Shrek the Third (2007) 2.5 stars
- National Treasure (2004) 3 stars
- 3:10 to Yuma (2007) 3.5 stars
- Vacancy (2007) 3 stars